Electric bikes — or e-bikes — are just what they sound like: bicycles with an electrically powered boost.
While most e-bikes can be adjusted on the fly for exactly how much boost you receive — usually from a low ‘economy’ setting up to a ‘turbo’ or ‘sport’ setting — there are two types of boost.
Most e-bikes are classified as pedal-assist, meaning the power only kicks in when you pedal. Some bikes also have a throttle, where a push of a button helps propel you forward, whether or not you are pedaling. A few bikes feature a combination of pedal-assist and throttle.
ADVERTISEMENT
- Electric bikes: What they are and how they work
- 10 reasons you really should try an e-bike
- The e-MTBs are coming – take your moral standpoint now
How pedal-assist works on an e-bike
While there are subtle differences between motor brands, all pedal-assist e-bikes are activated by pedaling. As you begin to pedal from a stop, the motor kicks in before you do a full rotation of the cranks.
This quick engagement is helpful in overcoming the inertia to get started. The amount of power is controlled on most bikes with a +/- switch near one of the handgrips on the handlebar, and often also on the computer mounted centrally on the handlebar. Most e-bike companies recommend starting on a lower setting, as the initial thrust on a high setting can be startling.
How a throttle works on an e-bike
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
via BikeRadar All the latest from BikeRadar.com http://ift.tt/28PQdZQ
No comments:
Post a Comment